Why porn is popular in Pakistan

If not controlled, pornography will cause the country to spiral out of control and lead a whole generation astray.

It’s late at night and the hands of the clock signal that it is just past midnight. The whole family is sound asleep with the sole exception of a young man sitting on the bed, with the laptop right in front of him. To anyone, including his family, it seems as if he’s studying, or working on an important project, or checking out the latest headlines online or watching innocent, comical clips on YouTube. All it takes is a peek over the shoulder and all is not what it seems.

This scenario is part of an average, everyday lifestyle for thousands of young adults right across the country, where in the late hours, viewing explicit material is more important than getting eight hours of sleep.

Known commonly as pornography, it is the latest epidemic in the world of technology and computers of the 21st century. Understood to be one of the causes that destabilises a solid and strong society, it ‘is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction’.

Varying in different types of media, pornography is produced in the forms of books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculptures, drawings, paintings, animations, sound recordings, films, videos and video games. An era once existed when magazines publishing vulgar images were very common. However, these print materials have dried away and are now replaced by DVDs and CDs, supplied openly in major cities such as Karachi.

One person recounted how a shopkeeper in a DVD shop in Karachi grabbed a handful of porn DVDs and suggested them when the person mentioned an interest in romantic Bollywood films. Frowning upon the vulgar material, the customer left the shop, disgusted with the way these things were being sold so openly as if it was nothing to be ashamed.

Pakistani adults are growing frustrated and feel that they are being abandoned by their government under the current circumstances. Youths who lack employment or education opportunities are more likely to experience the frustration and become entrapped in this mess. Because they are unable to find someone to confide in, young adults find solace in these communication networks, and thus the problem of pornography continues to plague us all.

Parents blame the internet, but there is no point in doing that. If someone took a fatal bullet to the chest, does it make sense to blame the factories that manufactured the guns? Unfortunately, it does not occur to some parents that rather than the internet, it could be something lacking in parental upbringing that leads their child to view such crude material. After all, no one forces or pressurises these youngsters to view such things. Upper-class housewives pay more attention to the latest dress designs released in “Kayseria” or “Bareeze” than what their child is up to on the computer.

With this subject, stats don’t matter. The fact that pornography exists on a wide scale in Pakistan is shocking enough and that is quite a sizeable problem on its own. With the government turning a blind eye to youthful frustrations and parents occupied in other matters, pornography is the dilemma that will cause the country to spiral out of control. A whole generation will be set on the wrong tracks and will end up at the wrong destination.

Before things hurdle out of control, it is imperative that parents spend more time with their children, discussing the good and bad things about the internet. Parents need to monitor their children and the activities they carry out through the day while using laptops, PCs and mobile phones. Broadband companies also need to play their part in eliminating pornography by restricting access to particular websites that mistakenly end up on the friendly list.

Pornography is a vile and loathsome form of material that discriminates human nature and probably is one of the greatest ironies ever – humans discriminating their very own nature. The sooner it fades away, the better it is for all of us.

“With the government turning a blind eye to youthful frustrations and parents occupied in other matters, pornography is the dilemma that will cause the country to spiral out of control. A whole generation will be set on the wrong tracks and will end up at the wrong destination.”

Are you serious? This is such a laughably absurd statement that I am almost at a loss to respond.

If you believe browsing through explicit content on the internet will destroy this country, I in turn believe that you live in some dreamland made up of candy and unicorns.

If you would bear with me a moment, I would put forward the scandalous hypothesis that illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, terrorism, lack of opportunity and an intolerant mindset are probably responsible for the frustration experienced by the youth of Pakistan.

And for your information this country has already spiraled out of control (due to the above mentioned factors). The fact that Pakistan is regularly ranked first in pornographic viewing is perhaps a symptom of the problem rather than the problem itself. You are confusing causality. If your argument has any truth to it, then twenty years ago Pakistan should have been a prosperous nation populated by pious youth (given that access to pornographic content was limited in the pre-internet days).

This is almost as bad as those articles which rant against prostitution, blaming it for all manner of societal ills and conveniently forgetting that not for nothing is it the “oldest profession in the world.”

You would have been better off quoting studies which show how viewing pornography results in antisocial behavior and a warped view of women and sexuality. At least then I could have read this article without chuckling at the sheer stupidity of it. Recommend

faraz

I am an adult single male and I watch porn at midnight. And for me, that’s the best part of the day. That’s the only entertainment I have. And it’s because of porn that I am the least frustrated individual at work place. I wonder how does porn generate frustration and temptation. In my case it has the opposite effect.Recommend

http://lonepkliberal.wordpress.com Loneliberal PK

The article is a failed attempt to validate a plebeian view of porn, giving no credence to biological and other statistical facts. If a cheap applause is what you were fishing for, you did fairly well.

As a psychiatrist, this is what I can assure you: No amount of parental guidance and education can help override a person’s biological instinct. It is an incredibly naive notion that if you raise your son well enough, he won’t be attracted to erotic imagery. Nothing short of castration can achieve that. In fact, parents should be worried if their child is not interested in such imagery, as that may indicate sexual dysfunction.

Pornography is a sexual outlet, and its use is more common in places where other outlets are not freely available, like in Pakistan. It’s not unhealthy, as long as it’s not being made a permanent substitute for real human intimacy. Certain kinds of porn (like snuff porn) are obviously dangerous and need to be controlled, but is is mostly harmless. Its ills are often grossly exaggerated to in consideration of the prevalent social structure.Recommend

http://liberalfacist.blogspot.com/ Nadir

Pornography will never fade away, and its not something that has just appeared due to the advent of the internet, in one form or the other its been around for centuries. Agreed it objectified women and is misogynistic, however, its very lazy to claim that viewing pornography will “hurl things out of control” as there is little or no evidence to suggest that. Actually it would be more shocking if pornography did not exist on a wide scale in Pakistan, as it is in society across the world. Recommend

Shamy

“with the sole exception of a “young man” sitting on the bed” – this is a highly sexist statement !Recommend

Ali

Pornography is more common Pakistan not because of parents lack of intension.
It because of, we have sexually depress society . what you expect from youth, to wait until they have reached 28 year old or more to full fill their desire. Sex cannot be controlled its natural.Recommend

Godhpur

@Author: Another futile attempt to define our nature and what is appropriate for it. Addiction to porn might be a bad thing but porn itself isnt. Kindly excuse us your sanctimonious lectures.Recommend

http://Ayazsays.wordpress.com Ayaz ahmad khan

Broadband providing ISPs should ply their part, though PTCL did ban some but it needs a fair exercise by allRecommend

Mr. Righty rightist

@faraz

I have to agree with you.

As an alternative, I think we need more and more self help online material for self control (men know what I mean). Some of us are addicted and we need help. Unfortunately, we do not live in USA to go to a rehab and have a second chance at bettering ourselves.Recommend

ayesha

oh my God. its depressing to know that people watching such things are very much confident about doing a right thing instead of being morally corrupt.
I never knew pakistani youngster have gone that far.Recommend

http://www.abadeel.com Adeel

Interest in Porn, a terrific indulgence, cannot be ceased at all. That thing is not only popular in youth but in uncles and aunts too. My neighbour runs a Video Shop and major clients of his porn material are persons above 30 who are not familiar with internet surfing.
It is not the point that author is telling us about our interest in adult stuff, we all know it. The point she made is the steps to prevent this epidemic.
Parents must keep a watch on their children’s friends as a false fellow will lead them to a wrong path. Recommend

Sweet Dee

Unfortunately, it does not occur to
some parents that rather than the
internet, it could be something
lacking in parental upbringing that
leads their child to view such crude
material.

Uhh…sorry no, that’s completely incorrect.

People watch porn because of hormones raging through them…because they’re red-blooded human beings and they like to see flesh…because they’re horny and they want to sexually gratify themselves…etc, etc, you get the point.Recommend

Raza

The problem lies in our atitude. The pornographic interests start developing due to so called “romantic bollywood movies”.

When two strangers can so easily meet suddenly, and the next day they are in bed, enjoying sexual intercourse. How has “ISLAMIC” Republic of Pakistan allowed such movies, and now Pakistani dramas promoting the culture of extra marital relationships, and ‘frienships’ among boys and girls.

Our families go to the cinemas, and rarely does a family WALKOUT upon seeing “romance” with their young children.

The whole nation has to look into behaviors. No-one cares for kids. Young adults don’t care for teenagers and siblings, and kids. parents and specially mothers don’t care for youth, as they are obsessed with programmes shown on media.

What is media doing for our “Youth”, in terms of spirituality and moral values? nothing. “Romantic Bollywood” movies are shown on MUSLIM festival Eid. Recommend

AK

And how exactly is banning porn going to help get over the youths frustrations. You take the one thing they have and think that’s the end of it. Well then you are wrong. CD shops and small underground cafes will be in bloom again. And don’t even get me started over the Red Light Areas, diseases and whatnot. I ask you how is that better than a kid sitting on the computer, in his home, watching porn.
Course you cannot ‘ban’ porn. I mean what exactly do you mean by that? Banning sites? Or closing down magazine stores. Trust me it will find a way. It always does.
Talk to your kids. Help them outgrow. Tell them the difference between right and wrong. Tell them what their limits are. Don’t stand over there shoulders and peep. For God’s sake what good will that do?
For once give us a solution and not another problem. Recommend

Mj

“Understood to be one of the causes that destabilises a solid and strong society,’.”
…
“pornography is the dilemma that will cause the country to spiral out of control. A whole generation will be set on the wrong tracks and will end up at the wrong destination.”

….
This is a pretty bold claim you are making. Show a scientific study in a peer reviewed journal which agrees which your assertion instead of linking to a tabloid, Daily Mail. Absent consensual romantic relationships, people are going to turn to porn as an outlet to their raging hormones. It is for this reason that porn is more popular or obsessed over in repressed countries and states. Utah is possibly the most religious state in America, and it also is the biggest purveyor of porn [Red Light States: Who Buys Online
Adult Entertainment?].
Such results are also replicated elsewhere too and it is not too surprising that Muslim countries feature prominently on any such lists. Premarital sex already a taboo, prostitution is illegal, gender mixing is frowned upon, sex education is non-existant and now you are crusading against porn. This unhealthy obsession with dictating morality will severely stunt the mental growth of the country’s youth (Arab youth should serve as a prime example here).The Victorian puritans tried it and failed, the gulf states try it and fail, and so will any such attempts here. Such restrictions only serve to overtly sexualize the human body, encourages unhealthy fetishism, and results in similar absurdities.Saudi Arabia’s Religious Police Outlaw ‘Tempting Eyes’.
Porn is not banned in majority of sane states, and believe me, the society in those countries is not breaking apart any time soon! Recommend

antony

I think the worry is about men who will develop a taste for woman with features skin/shape/behaviour shown in these films and start to want only that type in real life . This might impact the woman of different skin color/shape/behavior though original with pressure to imitate the the girls in porn film as desired by the male folks.. I understand the concern but I would say every woman has the ability to attract a man with what she already has and need no fear on what men look at a screen.Recommend

Maira

Porn is popular in each and every corner of the world not only Pakistan. Why people always see negative things in Pakistani youth?
But, Pakistani youth has highest potential to save themselves from Porn than European nations because people see porn when they do not have healthy activities to do. This is the case with kids in Europe where they are deprived of attention from parents and cannot do much outside of their homes due to severe cold weather. We, on the other side are very lucky to have loving parents, caring friends and no electricity to watch porn. It is just the matter of distraction of mind which can be controlled with little effort.Recommend

Mani

Wow. Asinine article is asinine in SO many ways. P.S. George Orwell called. He wanted to discuss censorship and other such totalitarian behavioural controls with you. Seems like you’ve got quite a good sense of how to keep things in check.Recommend

AM

“Pornography is a vile and loathsome form of material that discriminates human nature and probably is one of the greatest ironies ever – humans discriminating their very own nature. The sooner it fades away, the better it is for all of us.”

I think these sentences have backfired. There is no irony. Humans follow their biological urges and that is their nature.Recommend

MF Hussain

Understood to be one of the causes that destabilises a solid and strong society, and how do you quantify that. Where is the proof. Its exactly these kinds of wild statements that are the cornerstone of the religious fanatics obscurantist argument…Recommend

Faisal

I agree with the fact that pornography is not the best practice to indulge in (and my reasons are more neurological then religious), however, parents monitoring their child’s activities is not necessarily the best way to deal with this. It is with these tight leashes that youth in Pakistan decide to hide and indulge in these activities. In my opinion, it is best to educate them and give them attention. Get youth involved. With insecurities in cities like Karachi, more and more youths have little to do and will naturally find other ways to spend their time. The more you leash them though, the more loop holes they will find and indulge in those activities anyways. also I agree with the comment above, there is no point exaggerating the effects. The western societies have indulged in a lot more than just pornography and yet their societies function much better than ours. Recommend

Muhammad Tayyab

Really impressive article about Pakistan. When first I looked at the name of author I was confused that it might be a great propaganda against Pakistan by an indian writer but it seems that writer does have a great approach towards the life of young generation of Pakistan. In our country so much importance is not given to this issue but if we go deep inside, will know that really it has grave consequences. Govt. must has banned such material to be sold and restrict such sites in Pakistan like other countries. This is also shame for us that our country ranks at the top in pornographic visits. But govt. has not separated time for any progressive work instead of corruption, money making and fight for power sharing.Recommend

kashif

I watch porn and i am proud of it. in my book of ethics watching it is not wrongRecommend

Mr Kewl

Tribune would do itself a favor by taking this article down, seeing as how it is nothing more than ascetic, moralistic diatribe….Recommend

Ali Hassan

the main reason for this is that we can’t found islam around us.Broadband are easily available at our homes, those which have not this facility at home,they can easily go to net cafe and release their frustation.Recommend

stop the presses – guys are watching porn! gasp! it must be due to the lack of education and employment opportunities… I mean, after all, why else would a teenage guy watch porn.Recommend

Awais

@ayesha:
Please refer to Sweet Dee’s comment, just one comment down from yours :)Recommend

Awais

@Maira:
So you’re basically saying European Kids are snowed into their houses and don’t have loving parents or caring friends so thats why they ALL watch porn……Can you see the same ignorance that I see in your comment?Recommend

@Ali Hassan:
So in your opinion, the main reason people watch porn is because they cannot find Islam around them? I recall hearing azaans from 2 or more mosques on each prayer time on their loudspeakers…I think almost everyone has a easy access to Islam in Pakistan. There is a high chance of a mosque in every borough, district, area in Pakistan.

I think the main reason people watch porn is because they have sexual desires and hormones raging through them.Recommend

Eli

The urge to eat something, when you are hungry, is NATURAL. It was put in you by God himself. Same is the case with lust. GOD Himself gave it to me and there are reasons. He sent Eve with Adam to earth. Adam was NOT alone.
To satisfy that built-in urge, God Himself told me to get married. There are hundreds of ahadith directing parents to arrange marriage for their kids once they are baligh. Do OUR parents listen to the Creator? even His messenger? NO. Still they are annoyed of be rah ravi? They SHOULD have seen it coming.
Now, our so called exemplary society, makes us wait for around 30 years to get married. WTF? It wont let us demand our right to marriage unless we are financially STABLE. Again, WTF? Can i live without eating anything? NO. Can i live without satisfying my urge/lust? A bigger NO.
I desperately find respite in material like p**n BECAUSE i have NO OTHER way to vent out the buildup. Give US the right to marry as soon as we are done with education, and there will be a significant decline in objectionable behavior of all sorts. Be it porno, or stalking girls.
Mods: I hope you will not edit anything. I am speaking for males here. We can talk about rights of gays, lesbos, and all sort of crap. Why are we so blind that we do not talk about our right to marry IN TIME?Recommend

http://twitter.com/ejazasi Ejaz Asi

I haven’t seen one intelligent or even semi-informed view, opinion or fact on Porn in Pakistan and gladly this writer was no different. The writer singles out young Pakistanis as if every one else is Haji rafiq khan and it’s not even fricking new to technology in 21st century. Porn brought so much to the table when it comes to technology online, it makes other industries shameful. I think most writers want to display their lack of knowledge on this subject in a clever way of saying, ‘hey I don’t know jack about Porn’. Recommend

Marzia Raza

This article is triggered by the deeply unrealistic approach of the writer. Watching porn does reflect the particular mindset of our society-but again, to a limited extent. Instead of propagating against those who watch porn, it would be of more help if we find out the reasons that provoke the youth and adults to go this way. Frustration and natural sexual desire are the two important determinants in this regard, and unfortunately both of these terms are considered a taboo in our society. Leave parents, the way marriages happen in our social system, do you really think even spouses talk to each other over this issue? They find narrow escape and this is the reason why we have a society that is more porn-inclined, because there is nobody to understand. I strictly think that there is no bad in discussing but when this doesn’t happen, the last resort is eventually watching porn or looking for other channels to receive satisfaction. Recommend

http://peddarowdy.wordpress.com Anoop

Thats the problem with the Religions of the book. They consider sex as a sin.

“A study conducted in Denmark shows that men and women generally consider hardcore pornography a positive influence in their lives. They credit it with improving their sex lives, their sexual knowledge, their attitudes toward the opposite gender, and even their general quality of life. Those who use it the most, those who pleasure themselves the most, and those who consider their source material the most realistic perceived the greatest positive effects.”, says the psychology themed website- http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200801/vice-or-virtue-the-pros-pornography

You are the descendants of the land of the Kamasutra, where love and sex are not considered a sin but a celebration of love, God and nature.

For me porn is a way that leads the generation away from the natural ways…they don’t want to be in the healthy long term relationships which emotionally balance them with time and will get them friendship of a very special person.Recommend

DrJ1gsaW

‘If not controlled, pornography will cause the country to spiral out of control and lead a whole generation astray.’ –> The next generation of men being more creative in bed you mean?Recommend

Pro Bono Publico

To Everyone (excluding the writer),

I believe, we , as a mature adults, are fully aware of whats right & whats wrong in the surroundings around us.

The author is very much correct when she stated If someone took a fatal bullet to the chest, does it make sense to blame the factories that manufactured the guns? There is no-point to put a blame on the Government, the Parents..etc. Its the people themselves (who find indulgence in pornography) responsible for their act.

If anyone who supports viewing pornography labelled as an entertainment time-out,
Hes simply letting go of himself (weak-conscience), Though, Im sure he/she is very much aware of pornography being unhealthy vent for youth frustrations, hence he/she looses out himself to his weak conscience.

There has been a successful approach by the government-authorities to restrict access to such websites, but still, the youth has an access to it. Until or unless its ones strong decision to accept it as a meaningless-activity.

Its as simple as, `If the government has diverted a certain road-route, due to a certain procession, and ifstill` motorists adopt the same route instead of a diverted one, he/she may well inviting trouble for himself/herself. Recommend

http://deleted Bilal Afzal

Guys! What has happened to you all? Watching nudity was never the urge or basic instinct of human beings. However, making love is a basic instinct and need like food and other basic necessities. And that is why wed lock has been prescribed for the perpetuity of the human race and satisfaction of the sexual desire. You are just confusing looking at meal and having a meal. Taking a meal is a necessity but not looking at it. It doesn’t give us satisfaction but frustration. Anyhow it is my humble opinion and I respect all of yours. But I know one thing the people who think it is a satisfaction never saw and enjoyed the drizzling; and rising and setting of sun; they never enjoyed the exercise, sharing with their loved ones and early morning breeze. It is a method of retreat from the anxiety and lethargy. However, there are other causes too. Late marriages, abundance of such materials which sharpen the sexual desires and lack of awareness about it are other sources. Married people are less involved in this vice. However, those who are not satisfied with their partners get indulge in it. And it is again due to frustration, loneliness and idleness. Please go for running with your close friend at evening for an hour and you will be so exhausted-and love to sleep- that you don’t have a time for this filth.Recommend

I think leisure time or unemployment are the causes that pushes you to exercise it. Recommend

Asad

You cannot eradicate porn, but you can reduce its ill effects by providing the Youth with a society that can guarantee them education, employment, health and prosperous future. Recommend

iJoker

this is a sexist article! why is it centred around “him”? why not her/him?Recommend

http://twitter.com/#!/alibajwa Ali

What infallible logic…. pfft. Is it such a travesty that a young Pakistani male yearns for the supple lips of a buxom babe, that it’ll lead to ‘the land of the pure’ spiraling out of control ?Recommend

BHAVESH

ALL THIS is true because in this environment all young men haven’t any stuff to do …just he has lol entertainment Recommend

Texan

Government this … Government that. What can and will a bunch of illiterate people, whom we didn’t really elect, do for us? You see a problem … fix it yourself. Open up a “porn addict” clinic …. you should make millions. Recommend

rabail

i would have liked to see the statistics rather thn story-sort article…we all know pornography is very common among youth, be it of Pakistan…of course being a Pakistani doesn’t differentiate them when it comes to biological or sexual needs Recommend

This is a singularly banal, pedestrian, uninformed and unintelligent take on pornography. I am SO DISAPPOINTED. Recommend

http://lonepkliberal.wordpress.com Loneliberal PK

If a pornographic image worries you more than a movie scene depicting people getting shot in the face, something most Pakistani youngsters commonly grow up watching, there’s is something awfully messed up about your sense of morality.

First things first. Censor violence, and THEN we’ll talk about porn and its ill effects on society, if any.Recommend

MMK

Thanks Aneka for writing about a very serious and important issue. At present we are not realizing but after 10 to 20 years we will observe the effects and adversities of this induced pornography in Pakistan. Most of the parents do not have a check on their children and as a result they are got addicted to porn which is very dangerous for our society. Apart from children even adults tend to implement practically what they see in porn videos and magazines etc. We are Muslims and living in a muslim culture and community and Islam strongly prohibits vulgarity,obscenity and all those deeds included in this aspect. Watching a porn movie is equivalent to performing “ZINA”. It is a very wrong concept that watching porn on midnights releases frustration, on the contrary it enhances your urge and desire and as a result you will spoil your heath and character.
Allah Almighty strongly dislikes such deeds of BEHAYAYI and Prophet (P.B.U.H) termed this thing as the signs of QAYAMAT…….
Few weeks ago i observed a young kid addicted to porn. To my amazement the kid was out of his senses in doing all that. He was just quiet all the time and was trying to get aside from everybody. I was thinking what all would have been there in his little mind??
Moreover, we muslims have been adviced Recommend

zainab

A very pointless and good two shoes article and devastating affects of watching porn have been identified without any research. Pakistani society has bigger problems. Without porn youth will just get more frustrated. The writer is as bad as Maya Khan running around in parks chasing harmless couples. And no matter how good an upbringing you do its a fact that every man has watched porn at least once in his lifetime and most watch on a regular basis and now even women. And if any man says that he doesn’t watch it then he is either lying or he has some problem Recommend

RC

@Loneliberal PK: Umm, I’d have to disagree with you. Speaking from a psychological point of view, porn has a lot to do with the way you are raised. Kids with good work-ethics, authoritative upbringing, self-efficacy and goal oriented life-styles are significantly less likely to fap. So, yes, it has A LOT to day with the way one is raised.
And as for the second point you make about porn as an indicator of sexual health–while it is true that a tendency towards watching porn signals a “functioning” reproductive system, it is by no means a “healthy” one. Products of today’s pornographic culture see their own sexual relations as extensions of their online revelries and the element of “intimacy” (which is what sex ought to be about) is slowly becoming extinct thanks to the culture of “mindless-banging.”
So, no– watching porn is by no means a healthy pursuit.Recommend

munnay ka abba

@faraz:
dude….you are my heroo…. the only reason of frustration of youth is that they dont get laid so often….thats it….look at the american society or other liberal societies. moment they get to the age of 16 or something they start having relationship.. and thats why they dont screw every other girl walking in the street by staring (like us)Recommend

Parvez

Humankind has many more pressing problems than watching porn. The first three comments says it all.Recommend

Awais

@iJoker:
I totally agree, I think CollegeHumor.com made a humorous video of girls who do watch porn.Recommend

Awais

@MMK:
Well if you want to take a religious stance in this, just remember, some people in Pakistan have seen through religion whether it is Islam, Hinduism, Christianity of Judaism and are probably Athiests or Agnostics and couldn’t care less about what Islam or any other faith has to say about their stash of porn, weed or alcoholic beverage.

But yes, when it comes to addiction, then there is a problem.Recommend

Rizwan

@Raza:
If you think that muslims are above all this, kindly search “TV channel banned in Saudi Arabia” on google and see what the pious in Saudis are up to. I can reassure you that it is the tip of the iceberg. There are far more serious issues in Saudia and the bottom line is that when you force the two sexes apart, things happen. Increased traffic at porn sites is a very small outcome.Recommend

faraz

@Moderate

Pakistan is ranked 1 for google porn search. Supporters of porn are in the majority :pRecommend

Its actually very funny how the feminists and the mullahs are on the same page on this matter. BTW, the frustration which causes people to watch porn is not joblessness but rather sexless-ness. What could possibly be more peaceful solution to that frustration than a release in private quarters watching some harmless images. This brand of feminism makes no utter sense.Recommend

karim

its the matter of fact that pornography is popular among the youth of Pakistan, not only among boys but also among girls. the reason why the youth is so involved in such kind of activities is the lack of physical activities like playing games, trekking, tours and other healthy activities. the second reason is that the citizen of Pakistan are not safe due to the Taliban and other extremist groups when they remain in home, they prefer to watch porn than other movies.
if we blame our parents in this case is not right because most of the Pakistani parents are illiterate and they don’t have excess to the internet.Recommend

Ashar Ahmad

After reading this article I am completely sure that the author is one of those people who still believe that masturbation is also an evil practice which make people go blind and get them “hairy palms ” facepalm!

What are you on about lady?, if anything I think porn is that only blessing in disguise which has ensured that a hypocritical, frustrated and conservative society like Pakistan -which is neither crazy enough to withstand those Teen Marriages (as encouraged by Islam) , nor educated enough to provide sexual freedom -doesn’t end up becoming a renowned hub for Incest worldwide!

Watching porn is a completely healthy/ human sexual activity, though if you are really hell bent on getting something banned then please write something about those public stoning / hanging incidents which are glorified as the word of God in this very society of ours! Recommend

FH

What i would like to stress upon here is that with porn we are able to eliminate the sexual diseases that would arise due to sexual relations, thus having porn is in my view a positive thing than a negative one. Recommend

Fahad Raza

Did you attend S.A.L.T at any point of Christine O Donnel..???
Looks like you did..Recommend

Humanoids

This statement of yours is factually is misleading and is comparing apples to oranges” Parents blame the internet, but there is no point in doing that. If someone took a fatal bullet to the chest, does it make sense to blame the factories that manufactured the guns?”

Role of pornography is related to our cultural, religious and personal beliefs. Sex is a universal taboo and everyone loves a forbidden fruit (Adam and Eve). The control is only achievable when parents can teach their kids that this is normal to experiment with porn, over indulgence is the factor that needs control. Secondly broadband companies before giving connection should have an option for parents to have a parental control.

Porn like prostitution will never leave this planet, they are reality. Over indulgence in our society for porn have other reasons least of which are parents!Recommend

Amna

Thanks for writing this article, you have a lot of courage :)Recommend

Minto

@Loneliberal PK: Don’t be so intellectually dishonest. You cannot justify one wrong thing with the other. Violence is bad, and so is porn. Are you too lazy and inept to tackle both the chronic issues at the same time? Recommend

Kemo Sabe

Great blog post; great for starting a discussion on a topic which is considered “disgusting” by our Pakistani society. However, it does not provide any solution on how to solve it. Some comments completely dismiss the post by making a joke out of it and some others provide good rebuttal. Only one reply by “Eli” gives the real reason of why porn has proliferated Pakistani society.

Some, like “Mustafa”, are blaming lack of education, employment opportunities, and guys having too much time on their hand and no place to take out their frustrations. That’s one part. Muslim guys who are out of Pakistan are doing the same. Why? They don’t have those problems what Pakistani youths are going through. Let’s say, an unmarried Pakistani youth has a good job and a family. He sleeps for 8 hours and work for 8. There’s still 8 hours for him to spend. Spending a few hours with the family, friends, prayers, meal times etc can take another 4-5 hours, assuming that youth has such good and big circle of friends that he can spend time with them on a daily basis, he still has 3-4 hours on hand. How is it going to fill that up?

I am not saying that lack of education and employment opportunities is not the problem. But they are just one part. After all, these same problems are also faced by Pakistani girls, but they are far less involved in watching porn (it’s not like they are working at home a lot). Girls are surpassing guys everywhere in studies and professional lives. Why? Girls’ biology is different from guys so they don’t need to watch explicit material to satisfy themselves. That is why, Islam ordered girls to cover up. Seeing a naked man is not so pleasing to eyes, but a girl ….

Anyway, so biggest root of the problem: we Muslims are neither completely Muslims nor completely non-Muslims.

As a Muslim, youth / teens should not be watching porn at all. If we, as Muslims, believe Islam is the way of life, then we need to implement it in its entirety.

Islam put personal and professional lives on two separate tracks. They are not dependent on each other and not influenced by one another. Further to that, Islam also made a wife a blessing to get a better source of income. As ‘Eli’ has pointed out, Islam made parents to get their kids marry at the right age. The right age, as per our ignorant society, is NOT 25+ or 30+. A kid becomes an adult at 13. But, even if we keep the minimum marriage age at 18, it still is a very long time from 18 to 30. Prophet (PBUH) said that young people can fast when they start getting these urges, but it wasn’t a permanent solution for 12 years. This is keeping young Pakistanis back professionally, inside and outside Pakistan alike.

Let me give you an example. Mormons also don’t have pre-marital sex. But they all end up doctors, lawyers, MBAs, CAs, CFAs, and many with double designations. How? They are married by the time they turn 22 (at the very latest). They have separated the education / professional part of life from personal life. Getting married positively affect their lives and education. They don’t need to spend hours and hours online, at night, rubbing themselves off to explicit pictures and videos, but satisfy themselves with their life partners and get on with real life.

Take another example. The golden generation of Muslims; those scientists which brought so much knowledge into this world. Those scientists had remove this critical piece of ‘sexuality’ from their lives by getting married early.

Marrying late is a worldwide phenomenon, e.g. in US and Europe. But these countries don’t have any restrictions on pre-marital sex. Teens here have active sexual lives. The ones who don’t are either not pretty / handsome or obese. So, they either end up depressed / stressed or dead (suicide). It’s unique and very, very strange for a non-Muslim to come to know that Muslim guys stay virgins for 25, 30, 35 or 40 years. They just can’t fathom how is it even possible. Non-Muslim teens are engaged in sexual activities by the time they turn 15 or, at the very latest, 18.

Solution: Want to protect yourself and the society? Want to protect Pakistani youths from this? Change the society. Change the mindset of Pakistanis everywhere. Be either a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Either marry early and still continue on with education and professional life OR become a non-Muslim and indulge yourself in pre-marital sex. Remember how much food you are going to get in this life is NOT dependent on your education or your income. That is already written in your fate. So Educate yourself for the sake of opening your mind and developing yourself, not for that dollar. You may say that MBAs are proven to get more money but what you don’t see is that they are also in other problems; more stress, for example. Stress is the root of several other problems (for example, erectile dysfunction). Or you might be making a lot of money but living alone in some faraway spot, away from your family and friends. More education does not mean the person is more mature either.

For example, I finished my Bachelor’s in accounting by age 22. I started to work. So, I have a job and an education. Could I get married as per Islamic rules? Yes. Could I get married as per Pakistani society’s rules? No. I worked for 6 years. I am also addicted to porn but I wanted to get rid of this habit by getting into a halal relationship; a marriage. No one in Pakistani community would give me their girl, although, they all respect me and know me as a mature guy. Could I get in a MBA school if I wanted to? Yes, but I didn’t want to for professional reasons. Finally, I surrendered and got my MBA. Now, people are lined up. Suddenly, it seems I’ve become more mature, more educated, more marriage-material. But I did not learn anything from my MBA. It did not change me at all. I am still the same mature, educated, pre-MBA guy. What changed? I can bring more dollars home.

As long as Pakistani or any society for that matter, follow the money, that society will always, always suffer.Recommend

annoying

If you really think that only Pakistani men are involved in it? Think again, Pakistan women are also involved in pornography. Let’s face it, it’s a part of our society now and there is nothing wrong to admit it.Recommend

Syme

Why people watch cooking shows? Now your are suggesting that watching porn is unpatriotic? Being creative in “certain acts”is not a bad idea and if a relation fails due to noncompliance of a partner(Although I highly doubt it but just for an argument sake) then why so serious? and its not unislamic,Religious edicts by jammiya alazhar favor oral pleasures. Recommend

Syme

@author
BTW have you realized your fixation with the “taboo subject”.All your blog entries are sexist:) I admire your contribution in educating the public but this blog entry is self contradictory. Recommend

As a young Pakistani single female, I don’t feel ashamed to admit I watch porn and so do almost all of my friends. Sex is a basic human need after air, water and food. Banning porn or restricting access to it is no solution and I disagree with a lot of what the author has to say (no disrespect intended). However, if the porn is becoming an addiction or is influencing a person’s “ideal” man/woman, OR influencing the way we view one another in a negative way than yeah I’d say it’s problematic. IMO yes, most (not all) porn is tacky and poorly made and portrays men and women in an unrealistic light (I think most of know not all men and women are that well endowed) but as long as people use it in a “healthy” manner to a normal degree than I don’t see the problem. I think Pakistan has bigger concerns at the moment! Just my two cents…cheers! Recommend

Ahmed

The article should be renamed as, “Why porn is popular in the entire world!”
Aneka Chohan, you don’t get the fact that it is the genetics that make everyone watch things like these. Be it Pakistan or be it the USA, everyone, I mean EVERYONE watches porn. Just sayin, your argument is really invalid. Recommend

m.

Lady,

Please. Light up a joint and watch some pr0n. The world will be a better place.

ok enough of porn related news and blogs….this problem is rampant in the whole world dont single out Pakistan. And to answer the question why is it popular in Pakistan, well you dont need a whole article for that, it is because we have severe lack of recreational places and activities for ordinary people. They find refuge in porn as inexpensive entertainment.Recommend

MilesToGo

I am still trying to figure out, how is porn going to destroy Pakistan.

I am sure one can not watch porn all day all night because that will be physically very stressing. Married people for the most part don’t need to watch porn for obvious reasons. Unmarried people watch porn for the same reason married couple don’t need to.

Based on reading her previous articles, I have a theory about this author. Clearly, she comes from UK, and is just trying to translate the issues raised in UK feminist circles, and that too superficial stuff printed in daily mail etc., onto the Pakistani society without having any idea about the issues our women face. Her methodology is always same, cooking up a fictitious story and starting from there, without any data or research supporting her view. Heck, she even tried to include genital mutilation as one of the problems for our women, and cooked up the idea that women are brought to Pakistan from UK to go through this procedure. They are brought to Africa, yes. Pakistan? No. Not for this. For forced marriages ,yes, but not for this. Recommend

Solomon

People of Pakistan, the most idle people on earth where anything happens on Road, a flock of people gets gathered whether its 3am in the nighte.

Somethings are proved that humans have animal instincts in them as though totally illetrate we had highest population growth rate and that also in the parts of illetrate areas. The reason cited is that from the birth the child has seen mating of farm animals around them so its really easy for a child to figure out what to do.

Eventually a child only knows to do this and when he grows up he cant so watches porn.

Be happy that he is happy with porn and rape and eve teasin is little under control otherwise in this lawlessness you cannot image wat would happen.

Right now people only take mobile phone at gun point they would have taken your girls and you would have only went home with a sad face as you go after losing a mobile phone.

So let the idle population watch Porn and the writer should also watch it, as if she had she wouldnt have written such a boring article.Recommend

http://India Feroz

There is nothing wrong in watching Porn if you are an Adult. If you do not like it please avoid watching it, moralizing to others what they should watch is nobody’s Business. If anybody feels too Holy and pious please take up a job in a Mosque or Madarassa without Computers and internet connection.
Happy Watching to all healthy boys and girls !Recommend

IBA Student

why this author only writes on sex??
Either baffled or obsessed with sex?Recommend

u are so biased towards men i knw girls who watch porn at the same time toooo :PRecommend

hu

I’m thankful others have commented reflecting the empty, baseless premise of this article; I will not comment on the writing style but suffice to say, the author’s pedestrian style of writing makes the classifieds section seem more enthralling. That being said, the author is arguing a moral statement buttressed by nothing except her personal opinion, supported it with nothing. She gives us a three paragraph introduction into what pornography is but fails to understand or explain why it is popular; this article could have benefitted from an anthropological or psychological look at porn. Everyone knows what pornography is, the author should have concentrated on explaining why it is so popular instead of boring us and providing us with a baseless and unsubstantiated moral condemnation at the end. At honestly, what is with the jump from talking about porn, to generalizing that porn is harmful for people? I maintain that shoddy and poorly written pieces like this are a bigger blemish for society because they assume that this is what good ‘journalism’ (LOL) constitutes. Recommend

Porn is popular because it is for FREE, and takes less time to convince to get it out of your system!Recommend

Riaz

I do agree with all of yours points but I think you are missing something .i.e. internet is not the only source as you mention that DVD’s and CD’s stuff are easily available in Market. the problem is this how to stop this immense activity .here are some solution
 Roots
• first of all we have to cuts its roots .i.e. cross border smuggling , which is frequently occurring nowadays .
 Special Force
• Second one is governments should arrange special force against this activity on priority basis. Who raids on these Outlets and ban them .Recommend

The Critique

why single out only men? Recent researches have established that females are equally interested in porn. Recommend

farhan

“Known commonly as pornography, it is the latest epidemic in the world of technology and computers of the 21st century. Understood to be one of the causes that destabilises a solid and strong society”
Aneka seriously….. I have watched porns regularly now but it didnt turn me into some mentally distrubed person and Hell no, I wasn’t the destabilising factor for my society …Politicans and Talibans were and still are.
What an Absurb article !!!Recommend

Asdf

as if the author never watched any porn in her short life :)
and what the hell does this mean –
“Pornography is a vile and loathsome form of material that discriminates human nature and probably is one of the greatest ironies ever – humans discriminating their very own nature.”Recommend

ABC

Excuse me?

Okay, so you are trying to tell us that it’s the parents and the society’s fault? Trust me, no matter how much parents try, they can almost not stop their child from watching porn. AND, if you think that parents should be non-liberal or anything similar to that then you are on a wrong road. Even the children of Mullahs are porn addicts. And that is not because of proper up bringing, that is because of the immense frustration building inside a person. How can you blame some guy who is not married off by his family after he turns 25 or more? How can you blame some un-married lady who has sex talks with her male friend when she is 48? This society is frustrated and that is the only reason why they watch porn.

Apart from that, aren’t you being too racist when you mention a “young man” watching porn? Women watch porn as well. Recommend

Bow Chick Bow Wow

Woman you need to go back to kitchen! (My way of saying how this trite, unfounded article is biased, over-generalized and offensive.)Recommend

The Police

Funny how the ones bashing pornography and such are either women or married. Recommend

appalling

ARE YOU GUYS NUTS?
it’s actually really appalling to see how people consider this as a positive act.
if addicted, porn is by no means healthy! it affects the mind and well being both mentally and physically, it affects your abillity to concentrate, affects relationships with the ones you love. soo much negativity.
why not get out there and search for the ideal girl? be socially wild and make new friends? indulge in the things you love doing that are positive?
after all men are known to be social animals and now don’t give me an excuse by saying pk has nothing to offer. be happy with what you have! Recommend

http://none Mustajab

All:

It is neither the hormones nor the social pressure. It is just because of our distance from our religion and prayers. We all be arguing and would be playing the blame game over here. But we (including me) would find it more difficult to get up in the Fajir Prayers.

We all are saying that government should do something the parents should be more suspicious about their kids. Then can anyone here tell me where our responsibilities start? I think we all know that it is against our Islamic teaching which even forbid us to look at a female. So please stop blaming others.

Keeping my view “Pornography” not only the problem of Pakistan it approx global issue, and 1 thing must keep into our minds that “Sex” is “Instinct” and nobody if he/she is normal human than they didn’t control their Zeal till certain era.

For Example, when Hen’s baby born on eggs he didn’t know that Cat will catching him but when baby see Cat automatically it trying to found his mother wings.

In addition, this is concept that if you will stop the person who for anything wrong he must trying to do so for rub out his mind obsession, BUT our regional culture didn’t permission, so people find out the wrong ways.

As per my suggestion, Pakistan makes a Sex free country, when people exhausted to do one thing again n again then they trying to avoid automatically and spend their time to other activities like “Microsoft” or “Silicon Valley” etc.

WOW, I MEAN WOW. This blog is absolutely insane and perhaps looking for a cheap applause from the hypocrite majority present in Pakistan. Recommend

http://lonepkliberal.wordpress.com Loneliberal PK

Minto / RC,

Let’s be clear about one thing. There is no conclusive evidence that porn is bad for you. Various scientific studies have revealed mixed results: there are some well-defined hazards (like social detachment from chronic use) and certain obvious advantages (diminished sexual frustration, and healthy sexual function).

Society wants porn to be unhealthy so it can justify its own disgust for it. Fortunately, science is not subservient to society’s perceptions of morality. And so far, science has found no definitive evidence that watching porn is unhealthy…or at least, any less healthy than eating fried foods, drinking sodas, or any of the other risky activities that are fully sanctioned by the society.Recommend